—What does your son know about wet dreams?

—Is he prepared if one happens?

—How to keep the conversation from being awkward.

Can you imagine the surprise when your son wakes up one morning to find his sheets are wet? He immediately thinks he might have wet the bed. Or he may think something is wrong with him.

Adolescent boys, just like adolescent girls, become easily concerned when they notice changes in their body. If they are prepared before the changes happen, they will be more confident. They are often too embarrassed to say anything at the time, so reassure him that a wet dream experience is normal.  

Your son would feel more reassured if you prepared him for this possibility. The thought of having this conversation probably makes you feel uncomfortable. What do you say? How much information is just enough? He doesn’t seem open to this type of conversation, but you know it is important. 

Here are just a few suggestions to help you in your moment of need. Rather than going into all the details of what happens during a wet dream, give him practical information. 

• Explain to him that during puberty, he might have an ejaculation in the night. This is called a wet dream. When he wakes up, his sheets will be wet. 
• Show him how to run the washing machine and dryer, if he doesn’t already know.  He can put those sheets back on his bed.  
• You will put a second set of sheets in his room in case this happens again. This way, he can take care of his own sheets and no one needs to know.  

You have likely answered the most immediate questions that he has, but he still needs to know more about an ejaculation. That answer might be a bit more than you want to explain. I can help you with that.